- Lindsey Horan is a hugely important player for the US women’s national team
- The USWNT captain addressed her recent comments following a backlash
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
Lindsey Horan, the captain of the US women’s soccer team, has apologized after recently claiming that most American fans of the sport are “not that smart.”
Speak with The Athletics Earlier this year, Horan opened up about dealing with the criticism and criticism heaped on the US team given their successes over the past decade, including two World Cup victories before falling to Sweden in the last 16 in last year’s tournament .
“American football fans, most of them are not smart,” she said. ‘They don’t know the game. They don’t understand. (But) it’s getting better.
“I’m going to rip some people off, but the game is growing in the US. People are more and more knowledgeable, but people often take what the commentators say, right? My mother does it!’
Horan responded to her comments on Thursday and apologized to supporters. “The culture of soccer in America is changing and growing so much in such a positive way,” she said per Just women’s sports.
Lindsey Horan was a starter on last year’s U.S. World Cup team that lost in the last 16
Horan converted her penalty in the shootout vs. Sweden, but the team lost 5-4
“To get to play in front of our fans and represent this national team is my greatest honor… the last thing I ever want to do is offend anyone in that way.”
Horan, 29, plays in France for Lyon and she previously suggested that football is viewed differently there.
“From what I’ve heard, people understand my game a little better, a feeling for my football and the way I play,” she told The Athletic. ‘It’s French culture. Everyone watches football. People know football.’
Horan, who has played a staggering 139 games for the USWNT, was a starter in last year’s World Cup, which fell far short of expectations for the Stars and Stripes.
The midfielder scored two goals in the tournament and also converted her penalty in the team’s shootout against Sweden, which the US lost 5–4.
Megan Rapinoe laughed to herself after missing a crucial penalty for the United States during their last-16 elimination from the Women’s World Cup to Sweden
Emma Hayes, currently manager of Chelsea Women, will take over the US job this summer
Fox soccer analyst and former U.S. men’s defender Alexi Lalas hit back at Horan for her comments, calling it a “bold strategy.”
Lalas posted several tweets in response to Horan’s controversial statement, the first of which read: “So, not content with already taking out many Americans who don’t watch football, the #USWNT now clearly has their sights set on taking out many Americans they watch football. Bold strategy.’
He added: “I actually think American soccer fans are perhaps some of the best educated, most interesting and most versatile players in soccer.
Fox football analyst Alexi Lalas has hit back at USWNT team captain Horan’s comments
“In a country where soccer is not king, American soccer fans have often had to seek out and discover the game, both domestically and internationally… This proactive approach has, by necessity, given American soccer fans a unique appreciation and view of the world. game. It’s not provincial, it’s worldly.
“American football fans are forced to see the game in relation to the world, not just the country. This means that American football fans are often better informed about that world than others.
“Additionally, because of America’s unique culture, American soccer fans are exposed to a much broader spectrum of soccer styles, leagues, players, ideas, etc. than other countries.
“This has created a soccer palette for American soccer fans that is far more diverse than many soccer-oriented countries and cultures. Thank you for coming to my TED Talk.”